Entering School Year 2019-2020 that requires new leadership in the University Research Office (URO) as its former director reached her maximum term, De La Salle University- Dasmariñas through the Office of the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research has named a new director and one new coordinator for its primary coordinating research entity inside the campus.
Dr. Emmanuel F. Calairo, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research, has chosen Dr. Johnny A. Ching, former dean of the College of Science and Computer Studies (CSCS), as the new director of URO to replace Dr. Melanie Medecilo-Guiang who reached her maximum term and later resigned from DLSU-D to bring her expertise to her hometown in Bukidnon.
Dr. Ching was the outgoing CSCS dean when he was tapped by Dr. Calairo to take the task of leading URO. Dr. Ching has rendered his maximum term as the dean of his college, which is the reason why he had to leave the post. The situation presented an opportunity for him to bring his experience as a seasoned administrator to another office.
Having served as administrator for 10 years, Dr. Ching said that he was initially hesitant to take any administrative responsibility from the university, but the Dr. Calairo’s offer became an exemption. “Initially, I was planning to take a break on big responsibilities as an administrator after 10 years since school year 2009-2010. But when Dr. Calairo, talked with me last July 2019 on the possibility of recommending me to the position of URO Director, I did not have second thoughts of accepting the opportunity, which is a new opportunity for me to serve again DLSU-D,” Dr. Ching explained.
“In my own small ways, I know I can provide better organization and brighter direction to the research program of the University,” he added.
Dr. Ching also recognized the importance of research in the institution and accepted the challenges that leading the research unit would entail. “The research division is a very significant unit of any academic institution especially for a university. As URO Director, I am ready to accept the challenge not only of maintaining the accreditation and autonomous status of our University but also of establishing the culture of research among the faculty by providing new information and effective solutions to pressing problems of the community through collaborative research activities,” he expounded.
Dr. Ching also emphasized the significance of the cooperation of the colleges in his plans for URO. He explained that his plans and programs can only be “realized with the support of the colleges, thus it is vital that all programs of the office, including the Institutional Research Thrusts and the Cavite Development Research Program, must be communicated well and in-sync with all the units concerned through the College Research Committee Coordinators.”
Dr. Calairo has also named Geraldine C. Zamora, former chair of the Physical Sciences Department (PSD), as the new Research Training and Evaluation Coordinator (RTEC) of URO. She replaced Susan Sta. Ana, her colleague in PSD and URO coordinator for 10 years.
With the stated changes, URO is now composed of the following personnel: Dr. Ching as director, Zamora as RTEC, Dr. Norbel A. Tabo as the institutional ethics review coordinator, Dr. Jose Aims Rocina as the intellectual property coordinator, Jaime Zeus Agustin as the research publications coordinator, and Donna Maligaya as the office secretary.